African Union Chairman to Visit Sudan in Immediate Effort to Establish Ceasefire Amidst Violent Clashes

The African Union (AU) has announced that its Commission Chairman, Moussa Faki Mahamat, will be traveling to Sudan without delay in order to engage the conflicting parties and encourage a ceasefire. The announcement comes as a response to the second day of intense and violent clashes in the nation. In a statement, the African Union expressed its deep concern about the ongoing situation in Sudan and called on the forces led by the two generals currently in charge of the country to prioritize the protection of civilians.

The statement was issued following an emergency meeting of the AU’s Peace and Security Council on Sunday afternoon. The Council, which is responsible for addressing conflicts and security issues within the AU, has requested that the Chairperson of the AU Commission utilize his good offices to facilitate dialogue and a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Sudan. The Council also expressed appreciation for Mahamat’s commitment to travel to Sudan promptly in order to engage with the parties involved and work towards a ceasefire.

Details regarding the peace mission have not yet been made available. However, the AU has urged the warring factions to adopt a peaceful solution and engage in inclusive dialogue in order to resolve their differences. The organization has also taken a strong stance against any external interference that could potentially exacerbate the situation in Sudan.

Fighting continued into its second day on Sunday between the Sudanese army and the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with at least 56 civilians killed in a 24-hour period, along with three UN aid workers. The ongoing conflict is set against a backdrop of a power struggle between the two generals who have been in charge of Sudan since the 2021 coup.

The Sudanese army and the RSF announced humanitarian corridors at 14:00 GMT on Sunday, allowing for a three-hour window to evacuate the wounded. Both sides maintained the right to retaliate in case of a violation of the agreement. The relentless fighting, which includes air raids, artillery fire, and street combat, has left the residents of Khartoum without access to water and electricity. The clashes are primarily concentrated in the capital city and the western region of Darfur.